Key-fastener.



F. NACK & F. NACK, JR. KEY FASTENER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1911.

Patented. Nov. 20, 191?.

Ill

FRANK NACK Ann ream: HACK, 33., or s'r. Louis, MIsscuar.

KEY-rAsrENErt.

Specification of Letters Patent. 1 Patentgffl N0 2Q, 191*3 Application filed June 27, 1917. SeriaINO. 177,270.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK NAOK and FRANK NACK, J12, citizens of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, in

the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Key- Fasteners, of which the followlng IS a specification. I

This invention is for the purpose of preventing a thief from pushing a key from the outside of a door backward out of a keyhole or of revolving the same by means of a pair of tweezers or the like so as to turn the tumblers in a lock to unlock a door or from so rotating a key to aposition where its wards are in alinement with the keyhole as to enable such key to be pushed out of the keyhole inwardly. i

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur,

Figure 1 is a top'plan View;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view;

Fig.4 is a side elevation ofa modification adapted for use with a longer key' such as is used, for instance, with a rim lock as distinguished from 'a -mortised lock;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the'part indicated by the line 55 in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the blank from which the device is made.

The key 1 is illustrated in the drawings as turned in such a way that its wards 2 are not in alinement with the keyhole, but without this device vibration may cause it to rotate to such alining position, or a thief may produce such alinement with a pair of tweezers or other suitable means, and then the key will either fall out of the keyhole or can be pushed out, whereupon a skeleton key can be inserted in the keyhole and the lock unlocked.

The tongue 3 of this device enters the keyhole, and, being higher than the keyhole is wide, can not be revolved. This prevents rotation of the key 1, because tongue 3 is integral or in rigid connection with the U- shaped member 4, which so engages the head 5 of the key 1 (by underlying and overlying the same in flat connection therewith,

as shown in the drawings, or otherwise) that the same can not turn except with the said U-shaped clamp 4 and, consequently, not at all when tongue 3 is held in the keyhole from rotation.

In the clamp 4, a hole 6 receives a buckle 7 in the spring member 8, allowing the said buckle to pass through a hole in the head 5 of the key, which spring member 8 is firmly secured on the upper leg of the U shaped member 4. A handle 9 projects backward from the member 8. The buckle 7 protrudes through hole (3 and the hole in the head 5 of key to a point closely adjacent to the lower leg'of U-shaped member 4 or, if desired, may project still farther and through a similar hole 10 that may be provided in the lower leg of the Ushaped member4. The object of passing the buckle 7 into or through the hole in the key head 5 is to prevent longitudinal movement of the key 1 or displacement or disengagement thereof from clamp 4, and to this end the lower hole 10 may or may not be deemed necessary, but if not there must beno room for the key head 5 to pass between the lower extremity of buckle 7 and the inner. face of the lower leg of member 4.

The blank 11 shown in form the U-shaped member 4 and, also, at 12 to arrange tongue 3 in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the U- shaped member.

Locks mortised into a door operate with a key not so long as required for rim locks, which are fastened to the inside face of a door and which need a long key in order to be reached from the outside of the door. For rim locks, the extension tongue 13 is fastened by screw 14 to tongue 15 having stay-flanges 16 or may be made integral therewith in a device manufactured expressly for rim looks.

The spring 8 abuts teat or abutment 17 and is fastened to the upper member of U- clamp 4 by a screw or rivet 18 which passes through hole 19. By reason of abutting against teat or abutment 17, only one screw or rivet 18 is necessary to keep spring 8 from swinging.

Having thus described this invention, we hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts,

Fig. 6 is bent to as it is evident that many minor changes may be made therein Without departing from said key-hole and a spring-member carrying a part intermediate its ends adapted to snap catch the key-head in the said U-shaped member and project through the U-shaped member.

2. A lock-protector comprising a flat U- shaped key-headholder havinga tongue arranged at a right angle thereto and adapted to be inserted in the key-hole of a lock and Of such Width as to be non-rotatable in the said key-hole and a spring-member carrying a part intermediate its ends adapted to snap-catch the key-head in the said U- shaped member, the said tongue-having an abnormal projection beyond the end of the same.

3. A lock-protector comprisinga U-shaped member adapted to hold a key-head in fiat engagement and having a hole in registration with a hole in the said key-head,-a

tongue adapted toenter the key-hole in the said lock and arranged in a plane perpendicular to that in which the said U-shaped member lies, and a; spring snap formed of sheet metal looped intermediate its ends to provide a part adapted to enter the said holein the key-head through the hole in the said: U-shaped member. 7 f

4. A lock-protector comprising a U-shaped member'adapted to hold a key-head in flat engagement and having a hole in registration With a hole in the said key-head, a

tongue adapted to enter the key-hole in the said lock and arranged in a plane perpendicular to that in Which the said U-shaped member lies, and a spring snap having one the said U-shaped member by a single screw;

or the like.

5. .A look-protector comprising a U shaped member adapted to hold. a key-head in flat, engagement, a tongue extending through'the.

key-head for. retaining said U-shaped member thereon, a tongue on said U-shaped member adapted to enter the key-hole of a lock, an extension mounted to slideon said tongue, and means for clamping the'extension to the tongue in different adjustments for the purposerspecified.

6. A lock-protector comprisinga U-shaped member adapted to hold a key-head in fiat engagement and havingia hole-in registrav' tion With a holein said keyhead, a tongue adapted to enter-the key-hole inthe lock, a spring-snap having one end fastened to said U-shaped member and bent intermediately of its ends to form a catch'adapted to enter the hole in the key-head throughthe hole in the U-shaped member, and a handle on said spring-snap projecting beyond the end of the U-sh'aped member for the purpose specified.

.In testimony whereof We, hereunto ailix our signatures. V r

FRANK. NACK; FRANK NACK,.J R.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of: Patents.

Washington, D. G. v 

